Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chalupa Taste Test & Review

As soon as we heard of Taco Bell launching the new Naked Chicken Chalupa, nightmares of the heart stopping abomination, the KFC Double Down, entered our minds. But in the name of science, we decided to give it a shot. So, our group of 6 fast food experts, aka people sitting near me at the office, gulped down a few Tums, said goodbye to our loved ones, and headed to T-Bell knowing our bodies would soon be invaded by a freight train from hell, the fried chicken taco shell….And it turns out the thing is pretty dang good.

Looks Are Important

Most fast food joints have fancy food photography that looks nothing like the actual product they serve. It’s like putting your Tinder picture as Ryan Reynolds, but you really look like old decrepit Burt Reynolds. This, however, happens to be the exception. Our Naked Chicken Chalupas (we’re going to abbreviate this to NCC moving forward) looked almost exactly like the Taco Bell marketing pictures, which turned out to be a harbinger of good things to come.

 

Touch & Texture

Because it is a parabolic shaped chicken breast, we figured the amount of grease secreting from this thing would be just nuts. As it turns out, the chalupa was barely greasy to the touch. I was more surprised than when (80’s spoiler alert) Vader turned out to the Luke’s step-brother. Just mind blowing. The NCC had decent weight to it, and was easy to hold in your hand. The toppings stayed in the shell, and it was a real pleasure to have and to hold. 

Taste

My time as a sous chef in Thailand came in handy, as my palate was put to the ultimate test (lol jk). The first bite had a nice warm crunch, followed by exceptionally crisp veggies. It t’was a well put together texture contrast. A few seconds later, a low heat from the chicken kicked in, which wasn’t expected, but took the flavor profile to the next level. The heat paired nicely with a cool, creamy avocado ranch that brought a needed tang to the NCC. I do wish they had included more of the sauce, because it was terrific.

This chalupa does have an indescribable “Taco Bell” flavor to it, which is probably from the oil they used, but overall, it tasty and not too heavy. Pairs well with a margarita (I’d imagine) and Taco Bell’s cinnamon twists. But let’s be honest, everything pairs well with those crispy morsels of heaven.

Portion

For $2.99, the chalupa was a good size, and it seems more hefty and filling than your standard bread-based chalupa. That being said, I definitely should have ordered two. I need the macros to keep seeing gainz at the gym. Overall, an excellent value, and as part of a 5 Buck Box, you’d be stealing from yourself if you didn’t pick one up. 

The After Effects

We all know the fast food experience isn’t over when you’ve finished eating. Having the wrong fast food can wreak havoc on your internal plumbing for hours. In this case, Taco Bell impressed again with 0 out of 6 of us reporting any serious issues. Which is impressive, because once we each ate 30 pizza rolls, and our entire marketing department almost passed away.

Complaints

One thing that I need to complain about is Taco Bell’s relentless use of tortured chicken puns. Here’s a quote from the CMO at Taco Bell talking about the NCC: 

“Something this delicious yet different is bound to ruffle some feathers; some might even cluck their tongues at it.”
Just stop. Please. If you are going to make chicken into a taco shell, don’t make me hate it before I even buy one. Cool it with the over-done marketing lingo, guys. 

The Verdict

Most limited time only fast food gimmicks are just terrible (see Cap’n Crunch Delights) This one, however, is worth the trip to your neighborhood T-Bell. It was tasty, cheap, and different. If you buy a Naked Chicken Chalupa, you’re going have a great time, and that's' a Theintern guarantee. Grab one before they are gone!